Francis Lawrence To Direct The Hunger Games: Mockingjay-Parts 1 and 2

For “Catching Fire,” “The Hunger Games” fans had to endure waiting to see who would direct the next film in the series, “Catching Fire.” Thankfully, it seems like fans won’t have to get comfortable getting used to different directors for each film.

According to the Los Angeles Times, “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire” director Francis Lawrence has been hired by Lionsgate to direct “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay-Part 1″ and “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay-Part 2,” as confirmed last Thursday by Collider and later backed up by a news release.

The release not only has news about the directorial credits, but also has release dates for the “Mockingjay” parts. “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay-Part 1″ will be in theaters November 21, 2014 and “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay-Part 2″ opens November 20, 2015. “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire” will be in theaters November 22, 2013.

“In the thrilling sequel THE HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE, Katniss Everdeen and fellow tribute Peeta Mellark have barely returned home after winning the 74th Annual Hunger Games when they are whisked away once again by the Capitol. Forced to leave her family and best friend Gale, Katniss is dispatched on a victory tour of Panem with Peeta, where rebellion is seething in all 12 districts.

The Capitol is enraged and ready to strike back . . . as President Snow prepares the most diabolical edition of the Hunger Games yet. THE HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE will be directed by Francis Lawrence, and produced by Nina Jacobson’s Color Force in tandem with producer Jon Kilik. The novel on which the film is based is the second in a trilogy that has over 36 million copies in print in the U.S. alone.”